How to Have an Effective Networking Coffee with Just About Anyone
Maybe you’re a newbie to the concept of networking, or perhaps your just coming back into the “real world” after two years of never having to change out of your pajama pants.
Regardless of the reason you’re here, these tips will help you to maximize the effectiveness of your coffee meetings. Whether you’re networking for a job search, to promote your business, or just to make connections with new and interesting people, following the steps outlined below will set you well on your way to creating effective connections.
do your homework
No, homework doesn’t go away when you become a grown-up. At least not if you want to have effective meetings. Make sure you know the basics about the person you’re meeting with since this will be the foundation for your entire conversation. You should have a good understanding of the company they work for and know what their role is.
Then you can begin to come up with some ideas for questions you could ask them. But remember that these questions should be light and conversational. This is not an interview, so don’t show up with a page full of questions for them.
Based on what you know about this person, how might they be able to help you? That is an important question to ask yourself, but the most important question to ask yourself is “How can I help them?”
What can you offer that would be valuable to them? Remember that these are not necessarily things that you will talk about over your first coffee meeting, but it is important to come prepared in case the conversation moves to one of the areas where you might be able to offer them something.
Maybe it is as simple as providing them with another connection of someone you know who might be a valuable connection for them to have.
look like your picture
Or rather, make sure your profile pictures look like you. If your profile picture on LinkedIn is a cropped version of the glamour shots you had taken in the 90s, or your high school senior picture (unless you’re actually in high school or still close enough to it) it’s time to upgrade.
Do your best to know what the other person looks like, but not everyone has an up-to-date profile pic, and some don’t have one at all.
Having a picture that looks like you is about being authentic. But it also helps the person you’re meeting with in case they are also doing their homework on you.
This is a pretty simple step that can avoid the potential awkwardness of neither of you knowing who you’re looking for when you walk into Panera.
show up prepared - and early
You should plan on arriving 15 minutes early for the meeting. This will allow you a small window for unexpected delays, but assuming you have none, this allows you to be calm and mentally prepared when you walk in. You should always walk in the door with your cool, calm, “I got this!” face on.
There is nothing worse than feeling rushed when you burst in the door, only to find that you guest is already there, with coffee, waiting for you. If this happens, you’re staring out on the wrong foot, which isn’t the end of the world, but this is what becomes their first impression of you.
If you are someone who is always late or barely on time for things, then plan to show up even earlier. Remember that being on time and being prepared is about showing respect for the person you are meeting with.
I am a person who lives by my calendar, so when someone is late for a meeting with me, I will typically have my guard up when they do finally arrive. This is because I have done my homework to prepare for the meeting too. I have made plans to be there and sacrificed other tasks to make it happen. You should always be grateful for any amount of time that someone offers you, especially since you probably don’t know what sacrifices they made to be there.
I still encounter many professionals who view a meeting start time as something fluid or somehow subjective.
I tend to not want to work with these types of people.
If you are late (because things ultimately do happen…), a sincere apology is all you need. If you have a good reason, then share it briefly and get on with your meeting as planned.
buy the coffee
Or at the very least, offer to pay for it. The rule is, if you initiated the meeting, you should pay. But don’t get hung up on this. If they insist on paying for their own, don’t make it a big deal. Just order yourself a coffee and get on with the meeting.
This step should be pretty simple, but there are a couple things to note. If you don’t like coffee, you don’t have to order coffee. Get yourself something simple to drink and avoid ordering food. This is a good general rule, mainly because food can sometimes be distracting and awkward to eat while you’re having a conversation.
just be yourself
No, really…! It’s okay to be yourself.
You can find other sources that will break down coffee meeting etiquette into a hundred different rules, but I have found that keeping things simple and being authentic are the best criteria for a successful meeting.
When you take this approach, it becomes easy to ask even a total stranger if they would have coffee with you. Be honest about your intentions and why you want to meet with them. And yes, “I’m looking to grow my network and have have great conversations” is a good enough reason if that is the truth. It has worked for me dozens of times and I continue to grow my network through that exact approach.
If you’re feeling like you’re ready to start your networking journey, but you still need a little more motivation to get you there, check out this article that outlines the benefits of having a strong network!
